Abstract: A control valve for a particulate material blender which permits either blending or bypassing with pressurized gas or discharging the material without pressurized gas, but prevents undesirable interconnections. A cylindrical body with four access ports spaced around the body has a rotor with connecting passages within the body. In one embodiment, the rotor interconnects either the gas entry port to the blender port alone, the gas entry port to the blender and bypass ports, or the blender port to the discharge port as it rotates into one of its three positions. A suitable rotation means, for example, two rotary actuators, are used to secure the three positions of the valve, while preventing any other rotational positions.

Abstract: A loading system for light particulate materials. A storage hopper for granular material includes an airlock by which the material is fed into an air stream. The air and accompanying material are fed to a distribution pipe with multiple flexible downward projecting fill spouts which are spaced at regular intervals. Each spout has an associated control valve and air pressure sensor within the spout, so that as a container being loaded by the spout is filled, and the pressure in the spout increases beyond a preselected level, the spout is closed off and material automatically is transported to the next open spout. Air operated spreader heads may also be furnished at the lower ends of the spouts to assure that the container volumes are completely filled.

Abstract: A pneumatic conveying and material blending system and method which includes a bin having an open-ended vertical column mounted therein with the bottom of the column being spaced from the bottom of the bin. The material inlet is located in the bottom of the bin and a pneumatic conveying system supplies material to be blended from a source of the material inlet and conveys the material upwardly through the column so that material is discharged from the top of the column in the manner of a geyser whereby it is spread over the top surface of material already in the bin. The material already in the bin is drawn into the bottom of the column so that material already in the bin is blended with material being conveyed to the bin. A deflector is positioned over the top of the column to aid in spreading the incoming material. Booster gas can be supplied through a section of the bin adjacent the bottom of the column.